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Opinion Contributor

Why Tom Perez should be confirmed

Perez doesn’t measure a person’s character by his or her political views, the authors say. | AP Photo

That’s why the Maryland Chamber of Commerce wrote that they had the opportunity to work with Tom “on an array of issues of importance to employers in Maryland, from unemployment and workforce development to the housing and foreclosure crisis. Despite differences of opinion, Mr. Perez was always willing to allow all parties to be heard, and we found him to be fair and collaborative. I believe that our experiences with him here in Maryland bode well for the nation.” And President George H.W. Bush’s civil rights chief, John Dunne, said Tom is “a very straight, honorable person … [h]e’s the kind of guy I’d put my life into his hands.”

The Tom Perez we know and have worked with doesn’t measure a person’s character by his or her political views. America needs more of that at all levels of government. Over and over, we’ve seen him tackle sensitive issues with goodwill and integrity — seeking common ground with a common-sense approach.

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Most reasonable senators believe that a president is owed vast deference in picking his Cabinet. Deference aside, we believe an increasingly polarized Washington will benefit greatly from the Tom Perez we know — a real public servant with every skill needed to lead the Department of Labor for us all.

Melody Barnes is CEO of Melody Barnes Solutions LLC. She was director of the White House Domestic Policy Council from 2009-2011 and previously served as chief counsel to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Manus Cooney is a principal at American Continental Group. From 1996-2000, he served as chief counsel and staff director of the Senate Judiciary Committee.